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EAST TEXAS – The Feeding Texas network, made up of 21 food banks across the state, is calling on state lawmakers to increase funding for the Surplus Agricultural Products Grant today in a virtual day of advocacy. With the cost of groceries rising, many Texans are turning to food banks for support. The loss of the increased pandemic SNAP benefits (known as “emergency allotments”) in March will lead to even greater need, with all SNAP households experiencing a minimum reduction of $95 a month in SNAP benefits. “Texans everywhere are struggling with the rising cost of food, and as a result, more Texans are seeking emergency food from food banks,” said Celia Cole, CEO of Feeding Texas. Continue reading Texas Food Banks urge legislators to increase funding

SMITH COUNTY — A jail reform advocate demands improved care for inmates at an East Texas jail. At their meeting Tuesday in Tyler, the Smith County Commissioners Court heard from a member of the Texas Jail Project, Dalila Reynoso, who called for greater mental-health resources at the Smith County Jail. She was responding to the recent hanging death of an inmate, Nathan Lee Johns. A sheriff’s office statement said that Johns hanged himself with an electrical cord he concealed from guards after he took it from an inmate phone box.  Reynoso says the death should have been prevented. The Texas Rangers are investigating the hanging.

TYLER — The Smith County Criminal District Attorney’s Office announces the opening of registration for its first public Citizen Prosecutor Academy. According to a news release, that’s an opportunity to learn in a small group setting about the interworking of the Smith County District Attorney’s Office and obtain valuable insight into the crimes that regularly occur in Smith County and how the criminal justice system functions. Attendees will hear from prosecutors and investigators about a variety of crimes and topics. The Academy will begin March 30 and will meet for three hours each Thursday night from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. for a period of eight weeks. Dinner is provided each night. Continue reading Smith County District Attorney’s Office begins Citizen Prosecutor Academy

DIANA – Joining a growing number of school districts in East Texas and elsewhere in the state, the New Diana ISD Board of Trustees voted Monday to switch to a four-day week, effective with the coming school year. According to our news partner KETK, after discussion and some parent comments, the board passed the new calendar in a 4 to 3 vote. The vote comes after parents, staff, and students voted overwhelmingly to switch to the four-day week in a survey that the school district conducted. According to the results of the survey, 78.1% of New Diana ISD staff voted to a adopt the new schedule, along with 63.2% of parents and 76.1% of students.

ATHENS – The Henderson County Sheriff’s office says it is looking for a man who has an outstanding warrant for injury to a child. According to our news partner KETK, a news release says officials are seeking help finding Phillip Westley Flynn. If you have any information in reference to his location, you are asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at 903-675-5128 or Henderson County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-545-TIPS.

LONGVIEW — The Gregg County Commissioners Court gives some help to the county Sheriff’s Office in its employee shortage. The court gave its approval to transferring funds from the salary and benefit lag fund to overtime for the Sheriff’s Office. Lag pay is payment of employees for work already performed. The overtime will allow the Sheriff’s Office to cover costs for its current employees. Gregg County Chief Deputy Craig Harrington told commissioners that the Sheriff’s Office has been 40 employees short since the start of the pandemic, making it necessary for existing employees to work extra shifts.

LONGVIEW – Longview police say a woman has been found safe after being reported missing Feb. 1. According to our news partner KETK, a missing person report on Trinity Ross was originally filed with the Kilgore Police Department. Police later learned that Ross had last been seen in Longview, so Longview authorities took over the case. That sighting was January 29 near the intersection of Avenue D and West Marshall Avenue.

TYLER – Dr. Amy H. Schwartz has been selected as the new dean of The University of Texas at Tyler Ben and Maytee Fisch College of Pharmacy, effective March 2023. “Dr. Schwartz impressed us with a depth of knowledge throughout her 30 years of experience as a pharmacist, and I am very pleased that she has accepted the role to lead our faculty and educate our students,” said UT Tyler President Dr. Kirk Calhoun as quoted in a news release. A board-certified pharmacotherapy specialist, Schwartz is known for her extensive experience in pharmacy and higher education, according to the release. She has had recent publications in Pharmacotherapy, American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, and American Medical Association Journal of Ethics. Continue reading Dean announced for Fisch College of Pharmacy at UT Tyler

LONGVIEW — The city of Longview is putting out the word that citizens can use the Individual State of Texas Assessment Tool to report damage from recent weather events including the Jan. 29 ice storm/winter weather event. Businesses, homeowners, and renters can use the tool to report damages. Visit this link to move forward with the process.

LONGVIEW — Structural upgrades and building improvements to district facilities were just some of the agenda items approved by the Longview ISD Board of Trustees during their regular meeting Monday, according to district officials. They say an elevator located near the library at Longview High School requires extensive repairs and updates. LISD Maintenance Supervisor Mike Gipson explained that the elevator is from the original construction of the high school in 1976. Trustees also approved a bid of $915,020 to repair damages to the district warehouse on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. Initial damages were sustained in the hailstorm on Jan. 19. Board members later approved using $163,000 in grant funds for the purchase of MERV 13 Air Filters for district campuses. Click here to learn more.

CHAPEL HILL – The Chapel Hill Independent School District School Board of Trustees has called for a bond to build a new Junior High School, Career and Technical Education Center, Multi-purpose Activity Center, Operations Facility, and classroom additions. “I urge Chapel Hill voters to educate themselves on the proposed bond and make an informed decision during May’s elections,” said President Les Schminkey as quoted in a news release. On Monday, board members voted unanimously to call the $113,920,000 school bond for May’s election. If all three propositions pass, officials say the property tax rates will increase by .27 cents. For a home valued at $100,000, the tax bill is estimated to increase no more than $13.53 per month. Click here to learn more.

TYLER — Frustrated and upset Smith County voters gathered Monday night, and Grassroots America We the People explained in detail the 2020 election audit irregularities that led to the discovery of 584 absentee ballots that they say were not counted. According to our news partner KETK, analysts emphasized that a straightforward and trustworthy voting process is a cornerstone of democracy in our country. “That is precious to people and we need to make sure that we don’t take a casual approach to that. Even if one vote isn’t counted, that means an American citizen was disenfranchised and we want to do everything we can to make sure that in Smith County we get election results we can count on to be accurate a verifiable,” said JoAnn Fleming, Executive Director of Grassroots. Continue reading Grassroots America presents audit findings to public

TYLER — Officials say the Smith County Jail is no longer on a remedial order. According to a news release, Sheriff Larry Smith and County Judge Neal Franklin appeared before the Texas Commission on Jail Standards in Austin regarding the status of the order. Subsequent to the testimony, including improvements made, checks and balances put in place and replacement of key personnel, Executive Director Brandon Wood made a recommendation to the Commission that the jail be removed from the remedial order. The Jail Commission unanimously concurred. The Smith County Jail is also in compliance with minimum jail standards, according to a news release. Continue reading Smith County Jail no longer on remedial order

TYLER — Authorities say they are investigating a suicide at the Smith County Jail. According to a news release, at approximately 12:50 p.m. on February 9, a county detention officer alerted staff of an emergency situation in a side cell of the jail. Officials say officers immediately responded to the cell and subsequently observed that an inmate had wrapped an electrical cord around his neck and hanged himself. Detention staff cut the cord and paramedics began CPR on the inmate but were unable to revive him, according to the release. Officials say the inmate had previously pulled the electrical cord from the inmate phone box and was able to conceal it from staff. Continue reading Authorities: Jail inmate commits suicide

SMITH COUNTY — Authorities say a murder/suicide is under investigation in Smith County. Officials say at 8:53 p.m. on Friday, Smith County Communications received a 911 call from a reportedly frantic female advising that her son, Cody Hand, had just shot her husband, Dale Hand, and she believed her husband was dead. Deputies responded to an address on County Road 3111 near Gladewater. While deputies were responding to the location, they were informed that Cody Hand was still armed. Moments later, deputies were informed that Cody Hand had just shot himself. Continue reading Sheriff’s Office investigates murder/suicide